Kickball brings kids and parents from other schools together

Black, brown curls tickled her neck as fifth-grader Maegan Garza picked up the purple orb and then steadily positioned it for a gentle pitch.

The Schorlemmer Elementary School Bear kept the secret of her gaze behind lime green sunglasses.

The sun beat hard against the Schorlemmer and Chandler elementary school students while they danced between bases.

"This is my first year playing with the team" Maegan said. "It's taught me how to be a good sport."

For the past four years, the Victoria school district's intramurals department has provided a districtwide kickball league for fourth- and fifth-graders.

The idea behind the league was to keep kids active until they can enter the middle school athletic system.

Originally, the intramural department focused on bringing in leagues and activities for students at Memorial High School during the district's consolidation period.

Since the school split into East and West high schools, the department has shifted its focus on younger students.

Each campus is responsible for signing itself up for the league.

From VISD, 14 of its 17 elementary schools play kickball. Siler said, the district's three county schools are excluded from the league because of the additional supplies and travel expenses that it would take the transport kids to other fields.

"We originally started out with six schools," Siler said. "Chandler and Dudley joined the league last year."

All costs for the elementary kickball league are covered by the district.

"'Intra' means within, so everything we do happens within the schools," Siler said. "The only program that costs extra in our department is golf."

Students are required to get good grades in order to play.

"For some of the kids, this is their only chance for athletics at this age," said Schorlemmer teacher Karisa Miller. "It's just to show you care about their lives."

Rested against a lawn chair, Tom Sanders watched his granddaughter Kallie McLeod, 10, run across the grassy field.

"This is good for them because it keeps them away from video games," Sanders said. "These kids need to be physically and mentally fit."

Chandler mother Timetra Youngblood said she's noticed a change her daughter's attitude towards school since the league started.

"She has fun. She looks forward to it," Youngblood said.

The 33-year-old mother said sometimes it can be a struggle getting her daughter to the games on time.

"The only negative thing is that the games start so early." Youngblood said. "I do what I can to get her there."